A two-year-old leopard that had fallen into a dry well in a village in Tumakuru district was rescued with the help of a wooden ladder, amidst high drama on Thursday evening.
Villagers believe the leopard strayed into Kallupalya in Kunigal taluk on Wednesday night in search of food. But it was only around 10 a.m. the next day that they spotted the animal.
“We heard growls and saw the leopard trying to jump out of the well,” said residents, who immediately informed the Forest Department officials. “The well is around 30-ft deep, and it couldn’t jump out or climb the walls,” villagers said.
The forest personnel brought a wooden ladder and kept it in the well. They sent the villagers, who had gathered near the well, away from the spot and instructed everyone to maintain silence. “Around 4 p.m., the leopard came out using the wooden ladder. He used the ladder within 10 minutes of us placing it there,” said Range Forest Officer Ravi C.
Forest officials said it was possible that the leopard fell into the well while chasing prey.
